Harry Kane: The Greatest Goalscorer In English History

Harry Kane is the record goalscorer for Tottenham Hotspur with over 200 goals for the club. Kane has smashed several records in England and the Bundesliga playing for Bayern Munich. Harry Kane has already cemented his status as one of the modern greats of football.

After suffering several rejections and loan spells during his youth career and the early part of his senior career, Kane has become a household name in football. Join Footballers Biographies as we explore the journey of the Three Lions captain, from academy reject to world-class striker.

Player Profile – Harry Kane

Harry Edward Kane MBE is one of the best strikers of his generation, he currently plays as a striker for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and captains the England national team.

Kane began his professional career with Tottenham Hotspur and has won accolades such as the PFA Young Player of the Year and the Premier League Golden Boot.

He holds the record for the most goals scored for England, with 62 goals in 89 appearances. However, despite his individual success, Kane has yet to win a team trophy for either club or country.

Harry Kane’s Profile Overview

The Early Life of Harry Kane

Harry Edward Kane was born in Walthamstow, London to Kim and Patrick Kane, he has two brothers Charlie and Tom Kane. Kane attended Larkswood Primary Academy before attending  Chingford Foundation School, the Alma Mater of football legend and icon David Beckham.

Kane’s love for football started at a very young age and He played for local side Ridgeway Rovers in 1999 when he was just six years old. Harry Kane boasts of an Irish background as his father was born in Galway and his paternal grandfather Michael John Kane was from Letterfrack in Galway.

Harry Kane’s Playing Style

Harry Kane is a unique striker with amazing goalscoring abilities. Although he primarily plays as a striker, Kane likes to drop deep and link up with midfielders.

Kane likes to spread passes showcasing his passing range and vision. His ability to hold up the play and bring others into play makes him an integral part of any team he plays for. 

However, Kane’s main strength lies in his clinical finishing and powerful shooting. The Englishman excels at finding space in the box, timing his runs perfectly to meet crosses through balls.

Harry Kane is also a master of the “on the turn” technique. He can easily receive the ball with his back to the goal and quickly turn to face the opposition’s goal. This skill allows him to open up space for himself or his teammates.

Influences on Harry Kane’s Playing Style

Kane is a local Spurs fan and his childhood idol was former Spurs striker Teddy Sheringham, he emulated Sheringham’s ability to get in the box and score goals. He also mentioned David Beckham and Jermain Defoe as players who immensely influenced him.

On his love for goalscoring, Harry Kane credits former Brazil forward ‘O Fenomeno’ Ronaldo de Lima. He stated that he loved and enjoyed watching the Brazilian on YouTube. Ronaldo was his inspiration to be a goalscorer. 

Youth Career

Harry Kane started his youth career with local club Ridgeway Rovers and joined the Arsenal youth academy at age 8. Unfortunately, he was released as he was not what Arsenal wanted and had a trial at Tottenham Hotspur but was not accepted to their academy.

After the failed trials, Kane returned to Ridgeway Rovers. However, Kane’s fortunes changed when he joined Watford academy for a four- to six-week trial. Harry Kane impressed the Tottenham scouts when he played against the Spurs academy.

Harry Kane was accepted to join the Tottenham Hotspur academy. Hane started as a defensive midfielder before progressing higher up the pitch to play as an attacking midfielder. Early on in his youth career with Tottenham, Kane was praised for his continuous desire to improve his game rather than his ability.

Kane continued to improve and eventually signed a scholarship contract with Tottenham Hotspur. During the 2009–10 season, he appeared in 22 matches for the U18s scoring 18 goals. He was also named on the first-team bench twice during the same season.

Senior Career

After impressing with the youth sides of Tottenham, Harry Kane signed his first professional contract with Spurs in July 2010. However, he was sent out on loan to Leyton Orient on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season during the January transfer window.

He appeared 18 times and scored 5 goals during his short loan spell with Leyton Orient. After his loan spell, Harry Kane made his first-team debut for Tottenham.

He featured as a starter in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League qualification round match against Hearts. Kane failed to score on his first-team debut as he missed from the penalty spot in the match. He scored his first Tottenham goal against Shamrock Rovers on 15 December 2011.

Going Out on Loan Again

During the second half of the 2011-12 season, Harry Kane and Ryan Mason went on loan to Millwall from Tottenham until the season’s end. Kane’s 7 goals in 22 appearances helped steer Millwall clear of relegation battle. his performances earned him the title of Young Player of the Year for the 2011-2012 season.

Kane returned to Tottenham for the 2012-2013 pre-season with a hat-trick against Southend United. He made his Premier League debut as a substitute against Newcastle United, however, he struggled to secure regular playing time.

Consequently, he joined Norwich City on loan. Unfortunately, his loan spell was cut short due to injury. After recovering, he briefly returned to Norwich before Tottenham recalled him early as Spurs were short in their attacking department.

Just three weeks after returning to Tottenham, Kane joined Leicester City on loan to aid their promotion push. Despite their efforts, Leicester fell short in the play-off semi-finals against Watford. 

Becoming a Starter for Tottenham Hotspur

Kane became a regular for the first team during the 2013-14 EPL season. His first goal that season came in a League Cup match against Hull City at White Hart Lane. 

His breakthrough continued when then-manager Tim Sherwood gave him his first Premier League start against Sunderland. Kane scored his first Premier League goal in the 59th minute of that match.

Kane scored in the next match against West Bromwich Albion, before scoring for the third consecutive match in a 3–1 London derby win over Fulham.

Harry Kane Wins the PFA Young Player of the Year

Harry Kane had an impressive start to the 2014-2015 Premier League season with Tottenham Hotspur. His breakthrough came with the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine trusted the Englishman and Kane repaid his manager’s trust.

Kane scored his first professional hat-trick against Asteras Tripoli that season. He also scored a crucial late goal against Aston Villa, saving Mauricio Pochettino from potential dismissal. His performances helped him win the Premier League Player of the Month for January and February 2015.

Harry Kane’s stellar performances saw him score his first Premier League hat-trick against Leicester City. He reached a milestone when he scored 30 goals. He became Tottenham’s first player to achieve this since Gary Lineker in 1991-1992.

Tottenham reached the Carabao Cup where they lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the final courtesy of two goals from John Terry and Diego Costa. However, his stellar performances saw him win the PFA Young Player of the Year and was also named in the PFA Team of the Year.

Harry Kane the Premier League’s Top Goalscorer

Throughout the 2015-16 season, Kane faced challenges and successes. He started as the club’s only forward and faced criticism during a goal drought.

However, he soon found his form, scoring crucial goals including a hat-trick against AFC Bournemouth. Kane also scored an astonishing goal against Arsenal in the North London Derby. He became the highest goalscorer for Tottenham Hotspur in a single season.

Kane’s performance during the 2015-16 season earned him the Premier League Golden Boot. He won the award with 25 goals one ahead of Man City legend Sergio Aguero.

Kane’s contributions helped Tottenham to a third-place finish in the Premier League and qualification for the UEFA Champions League, solidifying his status as a key player for the club.

Almost Winning the English Premier League With Tottenham

Harry Kane stepped up to captain Tottenham Hotspur in the absence of regular skipper Hugo Lloris for their opening home match of the 2016–17 season. Kane scored his first goal of the season in a 4–0 away win against Stoke City.

He made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 2–1 loss to Monaco and signed a new contract with Tottenham in December 2016, extending his stay until 2022. He marked his 100th Premier League appearance with a brace against Watford on New Year’s Day.

Kane also continued his impressive form by scoring a hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion. Kane’s goal-scoring prowess continued as he reached 100 goals in club football against Stoke City.

Harry Kane returned to action in April, scoring his 20th Premier League goal of the season against Bournemouth, making him the fourth player in Premier League history to achieve 20 goals in three consecutive seasons. Tottenham finished the season in second place with 86 points behind Chelsea

He was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the third consecutive season. Harry Kane was also nominated for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards. Kane won the Golden Boot with 29 goals for the second consecutive season.

Harry Kane Breaks Alan Shearer’s Record

Harry Kane surpassed Alan Shearer’s record for the most Premier League goals in a calendar year, finishing 2017 with 39 goals. In January 2018, he became Tottenham’s top Premier League scorer, breaking Teddy Sheringham’s record of 97 goals.

After scoring his 100th Premier League goal at Anfield, Kane’s remarkable form continued into the 2018–2019 season. However, injuries interrupted his campaign, including an ankle ligament injury that saw him miss crucial matches and almost miss the Champions League final.

In the 2019–2020 season, Kane started strong but suffered a hamstring injury in January, requiring surgery and a prolonged absence from the pitch. He made a comeback in June, marking his 200th Premier League appearance with a goal against West Ham United.

Harry Kane Wins Another Golden Boot and Top Playmaker 

Harry Kane had a remarkable season for Tottenham Hotspur in 2020–21, starting with a goal in the Europa League against Lokomotiv Plovdiv and making history in the Premier League by assisting four goals for Son Heung-min in a single match.

Kane reached milestones by scoring his 200th goal for Tottenham and becoming the record-highest goal-scorer in the North London Derby.

He finished the season as the top scorer in the Premier League, winning the Golden Boot. Kane also claimed the Premier League Playmaker of the Season award, a feat never achieved before.

In the 2021–22 season, Kane expressed his desire to leave Tottenham, citing a supposed agreement with chairman Daniel Levy that was not honoured. Despite interest from Manchester City, Kane remained at Tottenham and recommitted to the team’s success.

He made impactful appearances in the Europa Conference League, scoring a hat-trick and becoming the first player to achieve a hat-trick in all three major UEFA club competitions. Kane also broke Wayne Rooney’s record for most Premier League away goals.

Becoming Tottenham’s Greatest Goalscorer and Leaving Tottenham

Harry Kane continued his goal-scoring spree for Tottenham Hotspur, equaling Sergio Aguero’s record of most Premier League goals scored for a single club. He then surpassed this record by scoring his 185th goal in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Kane further cemented his place in Tottenham’s history by becoming their all-time top scorer with his 267th goal, overtaking Jimmy Greaves. Despite some dispute over the count, Kane solidified his position with his 269th and 270th goals in a match against Nottingham Forest.

In 2023, he finished second in the Premier League’s goal-scoring charts to Erling Haaland, becoming the first player to score 30 goals in two separate 38-game seasons.

Amidst rumours of a potential transfer, Bayern Munich made several bids for Kane, with Tottenham rejecting offers of £70 million and £86 million. Eventually, Bayern Munich agreed a deal worth over €100 million with Tottenham for Kane’s transfer.

Kane bid farewell to Tottenham through a heartfelt Instagram video, thanking the staff and supporters for his time at the club. Tottenham confirmed Kane’s departure, with chairman Daniel Levy acknowledging Kane’s desire for a new challenge as the reason for not signing a new contract with the club.

Signing For Bayern and Winning the Bundesliga Golden Boot

Harry Kane joined Bayern Munich on August 10, 2023, becoming the most expensive signing in Bundesliga history. He made an impactful debut, scoring his first goal and assist in a 4-0 win against Werder Bremen. Kane continued to impress, scoring his first brace for Bayern in a league victory against FC Augsburg.

He reached significant milestones, including his 300th career club goal and his first Champions League goal for Bayern. Kane’s stellar performances saw him break several Bundesliga records, including the most goals in the first five appearances for a club and the most goals by an Englishman in a single Bundesliga season.

He matched and surpassed records set by legendary players like Gerd Müller and Robert Lewandowski. Kane’s outstanding form earned him a place in the Bundesliga Team of the Season, marking his seventh official seasonal team award and his first across multiple leagues.

Harry Kane’s International Career

Harry Kane’s international career began in January 2010 with the England under-17 team that played in the Algarve Tournament in Portugal. However, he missed the 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Championship due to illness. 

He progressed to the under-19 squad, where he scored twice in a victory over Albania in October 2010. Kane played a significant role in England’s under-19 team reaching the semi-finals of the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, contributing six goals in 14 appearances.

Kane was selected for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup squad and made his debut in a warm-up match against Uruguay. He assisted a goal in the opening group-stage match against Iraq and scored in the following match against Chile.

Despite opposition from his club manager Mauricio Pochettino, Kane was named in the England under-21 squad for the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He played every minute of England’s campaign at the tournament, although the team was eliminated in last place in their group.

Senior Career

Harry Kane, initially eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland, chose to pursue a career with the England national team, making his debut in March 2015. He quickly made an impact, scoring just 80 seconds after coming on as a substitute against Lithuania.

Kane continued his scoring streak in subsequent matches, contributing to England’s qualification for UEFA Euro 2016. He scored crucial goals in qualifiers against San Marino and Switzerland, and despite an own goal in a match against Lithuania, England secured a perfect qualification record.

Kane’s performances earned him the captain’s armband for the first time in June 2017, where he scored a late equalizer against Scotland. He further solidified his importance to the team by scoring a last-minute winner against Slovenia, securing England’s place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot

Harry Kane was selected as captain for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, leading England’s squad. He made a significant impact by scoring crucial goals, including a late winner against Tunisia and a hat-trick against Panama. Harry Kane became the third English player to achieve this feat in a World Cup match.

Kane continued his scoring streak with a goal against Colombia in the Round of 16, helping England secure their first penalty shoot-out victory in World Cup history. Although England finished fourth in the tournament after losing to Belgium, Kane won the Golden Boot as the top scorer.

He then led England in the UEFA Nations League, assisting in victories against Spain and the United States. Kane also presented Wayne Rooney with England’s Golden Boot in recognition of his record goal tally. 

England’s All-Time Goalscorer

Harry Kane has showcased stellar performances for England in recent tournaments and qualifiers. During the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying round, he led England in their 1,000th match and scored a hat-trick against Montenegro, becoming the highest-scoring England captain.

England’s 7–0 victory secured their qualification for Euro 2020. Kane continued his impressive form in the tournament, scoring key goals in the round of 16 against Germany and in the quarter-finals against Ukraine.

His winning goal in the semi-finals against Denmark secured England’s place in the final, their first in a major competition since 1966, although they eventually lost to Italy on penalties.

Kane also made significant contributions in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, scoring hat-tricks against Albania and San Marino to help England qualify for the tournament. In June 2022, he scored his 50th international goal against Germany, becoming only the second player to reach this milestone for England.

At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Kane equalled Wayne Rooney’s all-time scoring record for England as they reached the quarter-finals. Kane then surpassed Rooney’s record with his 54th goal in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy, helping England secure a historic away win.

He continued his goal-scoring prowess with a brace in the second leg of the Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy at Wembley Stadium, marking England’s first home victory over Italy since 1977.

Harry Kane’s Goalscoring Record and Trophies

Harry Kane is both Tottenham Hotspur’s and England’s all-time highest goalscorer. At the same time, he is also the second-highest all-time goalscorer in the Premier League. Kane has scored over 350 goals for club and country.

He has won the Premier League Golden Boot three times during his spell with Tottenham and recently won the Bundesliga Golden Boot with Bayern Munich.

Although Kane has had a stellar career, he has failed to win a trophy at any level both for club and international level. But with Kane at the prime of his career, there is still time to win the elusive team trophy.

Personal life

Harry Kane, the English footballer, revealed in a February 2015 interview that he was in a relationship with Katie Goodland, whom he has known since childhood. They announced their engagement in July 2017 and married in June 2019.

The couple welcomed their first daughter in January 2017, followed by a second daughter in August 2018, a son in December 2020, and another son in August 2023. They also have two Labrador retrievers named Brady and Wilson, after NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady and Russell Wilson.

Kane has expressed interest in becoming an NFL kicker in the future. He abstains from alcohol during the football season and has a full-time chef to optimize his nutrition since 2017. Kane enjoys playing golf in his free time.

Harry Kane was honoured with a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) title in the 2019 New Year Honours for his contributions to football. In October 2022, Kane launched the Harry Kane Foundation to promote mental health awareness. A statue of Kane is set to be erected in Chingford in late 2024.

Conclusion 

Harry Kane is undoubtedly one of the finest strikers of his generation and has established himself as a legend of Tottenham Hotspur, England and now Bayern Munich. His remarkable goal-scoring abilities, leadership qualities, and down-to-earth personality have endeared him to fans around the world.

Kane’s journey from a talented youngster to a world-class striker is inspiring, and his achievements speak volumes about his commitment to the game. As his career continues to evolve, Kane will undoubtedly continue to break records and cement his place among the all-time greats of football.